RADIO host Ian Collins has blasted the decision to suspend Olympic gymnast Louis Smith for two months over a video where he appeared to mock Islam.

The 27-year-old was found guilty of a breach of British Gymnastics’ Standards of Conduct on Tuesday and was banned from competing for eight weeks.

Mr Smith, who is a four-time Olympic medallist, took to Twitter after the shock announcement to apologise for the leaked clip.

The champion said: “I am deeply sorry. I am not defending myself, what I did was wrong. I want to say sorry for the deep offense I have caused and to my family who have also been affected by my thoughtless actions.

“I recognised the severity of my mistake and hope it can be used as an example of how important it is to respect others at all times. I have learnt a valuable life lesson and I wholeheartedly apologise.”

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Despite the Olympic medallist apologising for the video, LBC’s Collins savaged the ban as he labelled it "ridiculous”.

The fiery radio host added people should be allowed to have a joke in private.

Leaping to the defence of Mr Smith, Collins said: "This is just the beginning of his punishment. Just the beginning.

“My guess is that any sponsors that might have had an interest in perhaps endorsing him as an athlete may well think again, not because of what he said, but because of what the ridiculous Jane Allen, the chief executive of British Gymnastics, has made of this.

"It is her fault entirely now that this has come to where it is, not his fault.

"He had a joke with a mate. The last time I looked, you can do that. This woman has taken it to places it didn't need to go.”

Collins also blasted the fact that the British champion, who won pommel horse silver at both the London 2012 and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, was forced to insist he was not a racist, when he should simply be allowed to say he is not religious.

The LBC host continued: "Now he's going to pay a price, probably for the rest of his life. He's had tours of mosques. He's had to be re-educated in the world of Islam.

Louis Smith pictures

All the best pictures of British artistic gymnast Louis Smith

The 27-year-old was found guilty of a breach of British Gymnastics’ Standards of Conduct

“How ridiculous! He should have just said 'Do you know what, I'm not religious, don't believe any of it.

"So thank you very much for your kind offer but frankly I'm going to the pub with my mates.'

"That's what he should have been able to do, but of course because of this rather curious strange pressure, he's found himself in a position where he's had to come out pleading with people, "I'm not a racist".

"You don't have to prove yourself. Louis is not a racist. No sane person ever thought you were in the first place."